Kick-off date confirmed for £500m Everton stadium
The club will take possession of the Bramley-Moore Dock site on Monday 26 July and contractor Laing O’Rourke is to make an immediate start on the 53,000-capacity project.
“This moment will rank as one of the most important in the club’s history as it symbolises a new era for Evertonians,” said Everton chief executive, Denise Barrett-Baxendale.
The first phase of construction will include the repair and preservation of the grade two-listed dock wall, and the stabilising of the hydraulic tower located on the site.
Pipework will also be installed that will be used for the infilling of the dock.
Once these elements are completed, Laing O’Rourke will begin the process of infilling the dock, the club said.
Liverpool City Council approved the £500m proposals in February and the Government gave the plans final sign-off the following month.
“This will be a momentous day in the history of the club and is testament to the ambition and financial commitment of the owner,” said Everton chairman, Bill Kenwright.
“Like every Evertonian, Goodison Park has been a massive part of my life but in moving forward we could not have found a more fitting nor more glorious site for our new stadium – one which will both honour our history and celebrate our magnificent future.”
Everton’s new stadium could deliver a £1bn boost to the city’s economy and provide up to 15,000 jobs for local people, according to the football club.
In addition, it is estimated that it will attract around 1.4m visitors to the city every year.
The project also forms a key part of Peel L&P’s Liverpool Waters, the developer’s £5bn regeneration of 150 acres of former docklands.
Chris Capes, director of development for Peel L&P’s Liverpool Waters, said: “With this massive investment in the most northern part of Liverpool Waters, the stadium development will accelerate the regeneration of the waterfront and bring employment and investment into north Liverpool’s most deprived wards, with the whole city region benefitting.”
Amazing. Let’s get building
By David
World class stadium on a world famous waterfront
By Anonymous
A brand new state of the art stadium dominating the skyline, you love to see it.
By Anonymous
I really hope it pays off. History of team sports, footy and rugby seems to show that investing in stadium facilities is essential to being a strong club in the following decades. Good luck.
By Anonymous
Great news and look forward to seeing it when completed, however for Peel to suggest it is part of their £5billion planned Liverpool Waters project is a bit much, as it was never part of their original scheme. In fact Everton has been a boost for them as it is a high profile development which works to Peels advantage as things should now happen at a faster pace to revitalise the whole area, rather then the snail`s pace of Peel`s progress up to now.
By Anonymous